Verbena plant named ‘Pulena’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Verbena  plant particularly distinguished by its deep-purple flower, early flowering and a habit that is spreading.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed:Verbena×hybrida.

Varietal denomination: ‘Pulena’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new distinct cultivar of Verbena,botanically known as Verbena×hybrida.

The new cultivar is propagated from cuttings resulting from the cross of‘A716’ and ‘W681’. ‘A716’ is a purple flowering Verbena having aspreading habit. ‘A716’ is not commercially available and is not knownby any synonyms. ‘W681’ is a white flowering Verbena having a semi-erecthabit. ‘W681’ is not commercially available and is not known by anysynonyms. Neither ‘A716’ or ‘W681’ has been patented.

As a result of this cross the present cultivar was created in 1999 inEnkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced bycuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and Sarrians, France over a threeyear period. It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristicsthrough successive propagations, and this novelty appears to be firmlyfixed.

This new Verbena plant is an annual in most climatical zones in the US,only in zones 9 and 10 it is a perennial plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Verbena plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographicdrawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color,the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of this new Verbena. The data that define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inEnkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 14 weeks oldplants, blossomed under natural light in a greenhouse and grown in a10.5 cm container. Colour readings were taken in the greenhouse underambient light. Colour references are primarily to The R.H.S. ColourChart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

TABLE 1 Differences between the new cultivar ‘Pulena’, its parents and asimilar cultivar ‘Pulena’ ‘A716’ ‘W681’ ‘Temari Violet’ Flower colorDeep purple Purple White Violet Earliness Early Late Early Late Seed setNo No Much Abundant

The commercial name of the most resembling variety is ‘Temari Violet’.The patented name of this variety is ‘Sunmariba’ and its U.S. Plant Pat.No. is 10,801.

-   The plant:    -   -   Classification.—Botanical: Verbena×hybrida.        -   Parentage.—Femle parent: A seedling named ‘A716’ is one of            our seedlings from our A-generation of plants bred in 1997.            Pollen parent: A seedling named ‘W681’ is one of our            seedings from our W-generation of plants bred in 1994.        -   Growth habit.—Spreading, decumbent.        -   Plant height.—19-25 cm.        -   Spreading area of plant.—40-70 cm.        -   Strength.—Resistant to hot (30° C.-40° C.) and cold (0°            C.-10° C.) weather.        -   Branching character.—Freely branching and lateral branching            at every node.        -   Blooming period.—From April until November.-   The stem:    -   -   Diameter.—2-2.5 mm.        -   Length.—10-15 cm.        -   Shape.—Tetragonal.        -   Anthocyanin pigmentation.—Present, color 179B.        -   Color of the stem.—141B.        -   Length of internode.—27-54 mm, depending on the light where            the plant is propagated.        -   Pubescence.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Length lateral branches.—20-30 cm.-   The foliage:    -   -   Phyllotaxis.—Opposite.        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.        -   Texture.—Upper side: Smooth. Lower side: Smooth.        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Leaf margin.—Incised.        -   Leaf base.—Obtuse.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Length.—16-28 mm.        -   Width.—14-24 mm.        -   Depth of incision.—3-4 mm.        -   Number of incisions.—3-6 per leaf.        -   Color.—Upper side: 141B. Lower side: 141C.        -   Pubescence.—Some pubescence is present.        -   Petiole length.—2-5 mm.        -   Petiole surface structure.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Petiole diameter.—2-3 mm.        -   Petiole coloration.—141B.-   The bud:    -   -   Peduncle length.—35-60 mm, depending on season.        -   Peduncle diameter.—2-3 mm.        -   Peduncle color.—141C.        -   Bud size.—Diameter: 3 mm. Length: 8-12 mm.        -   Bud shape.—Elongated and ovate.        -   Bud color.—137D.        -   Sepals.—Color (upper side): 137C. Color (lower side): 137C.            Form: Upright. Number: 5, fused. Length: 9-10 mm. Width:            3 mm. Shape: Elongated. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Fused.            Margin: Entire.-   The flower:    -   -   Flower diameter.—20-30 mm.        -   Flower height.—14-20 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—12-18 mm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—2-3 mm.        -   Inflorescence.—Corymb.        -   Flower-form.—Single, salver form; sessile on terminal            corymbs.        -   Petal color.—Upper side: 71C, bleaching to 75B. Lower side:            N81A.        -   Eye.—A very small (2 mm) greenish Eye (155C) is present on            all petals at their base.        -   Overlapping of petals.—Separate.        -   No. of petals.—Gamopetalous, 5 lobed.        -   Petal apex.—Obcordate.        -   Petal base.—Fused.        -   Petal margin.—Entire.        -   Petal surface texture.—Smooth.        -   Size of the petal.—Length: 7-9 mm. Width: 5-7 mm.        -   Inflorescence.—Length: 35-40 mm. Diameter: 45-60 mm.        -   Calyx length.—12-16 mm.        -   Calyx diameter.—3-4 mm.        -   Anthocyanin pigmentation of calyx limb.—Absent.        -   Color of the calyx.—137C.        -   No. of flowers per inflorescence.—35-50.        -   Fragrance.—A faint rosy fragrance is present.        -   Bloom time of one inflorescence.—New florets continue to            open in one corymb over a period of 14 days.        -   Lastingness of one flower.—2 to 4 days.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamens quantity: 4. Anther shape: Ovoid. Anther            length: 1 mm. Anther color: 144A. Pollen amount: No pollen.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistils quantity: 1. Pistil length: 2.0-2.4 cm.            Stigma shape: Bi-lobed. Stigma color: 144B. Style length:            1.9 cm. Style color: 144C. Ovary color: 144C.

No seedset is observed.

-   Roots:    -   -   Type of roots.—Fibrous, color 155C. Roots start to grow on            every part of the stem that contacts the soil, so not only            at the nodes.-   Physiological and ecological characteristics: Good tolerance to heat    and cold.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Verbena have been    observed to have strong resistance to diseases and pests,    particularly to Powdery Mildew.

1. A new and distinct variety of Verbena plant named ‘Pulena’,substantially as illustrated and described herein.